Gwen Barlee, Policy Director, Executive Team member
Gwen came to the Wilderness Committee in 2001 with a background in political science and a passion for environmental and social advocacy. Her diverse education and experience includes social work, film production, and web development, and she is a past executive team member of the Victoria chapter of the Council of Canadians. Today, Gwen is the Wilderness Committee's Policy Director, and a member of the executive team. Although her focus has been on species at risk, Gwen is also active in our resource policy and parks campaigns, and she can be found working passionately on almost any issue the Wilderness Committee is involved with.
Joe Foy, National Campaign Director, Executive Team member
As a child growing up in the Fraser Valley, Joe loved to hike and fish in the country surrounding his home - but it was his love of the Stein Valley wilderness that led him to begin volunteering with the Wilderness Committee in 1984. In 1987 Joe became the Wilderness Committee's first paid campaigner and initiated the Lower Mainland Pocket Wilderness Campaign. Since then, Joe has been the driving force behind many of our campaigns, and has led the Wilderness Committee to successfully protect spectacular areas such as the Elaho Valley, Boise/Pinecone/Burke, and the Stein, Carmanah and Lower Walbran Valleys. Joe's passion for the wild shines through in his speeches at rallies, to media, and to the public. In all of his front line work, Joe is inspired and informed by his love for wilderness and the thousands of hours he has spent exploring BC's wild places.
Matt Jong, Comptroller, Executive Team member
Matt joined the Wilderness Committee in 1998 as our comptroller, and is ultimately responsible for all aspects of the organization's financial management. Matt received his CMA from UBC in 1969 and spent several years with a firm of chartered accountants before moving on to sales and administration in a brokerage firm, where he was a vice president and director. He then spent 20 years in the investment industry, which he later parlayed into consulting work for both government and private companies. Matt's desire to contribute towards environmental and wilderness protection led him to the Wilderness Committee, and his dedication and diverse background are a great asset to the organization, both as our financial manager and as a member of our executive team and Board of Directors.
Andrea Reimer, Executive Director, Executive Team member
Andrea joined the Wilderness Committee in 1992 and over the years has worked in every department within the organization, making her a natural choice for the role of executive director when the position opened up in January of 2002.
A recognized leader in BC's environmental movement, Andrea was chosen to be trained by Al Gore in 2007 to deliver his An Inconvenient Truth PowerPoint presentation to local audiences and in 2008 coordinated a coalition of 14 environmental groups to successfully garner Canada’s first carbon tax and significant funding for carbon reducing infrastructure.
Andrea has volunteered with many community organizations including formerly serving as President of CCEC Credit Union, Vice-Chair of the local Farmer’s Market Society, Director of Toxic Free Canada and Trustee on the Vancouver School Board . She currently serves as a Director of the Environmental Education Action Project, sits on the Vancouver Foundation’s Health and Social Development Advisory Committee and is elected to Vancouver City Council.
Gil Aguilar, Campaigns and Communications Assistant, Vancouver
In 2005 the Wilderness Committee launched a survey of Marbled Murrelet habitat in Elk Creek near Chilliwack, inviting volunteers to help. Stepping into the forest from the sunny meadows surrounding felt like plunging into another world, where you could almost see the vibrant life of the forest emanating from the trees. This was Gil's first experience in a Canadian wilderness area in danger of being destroyed, which inspired him to become ever more active in the protection and conservation of our environment. Originally from Chiapas, Mexico, Gil moved to Canada in 2001, graduating from Simon Fraser University in the summer of 2005. He became a "full-time volunteer" with the Wilderness Committee in early 2005, participating on two trail-building expeditions to Lost Valley, several public outreach events, and the Web Publishing of all Wilderness Committee educational reports. With a deep passion for integrating an indigenous worldview to his work, Gil models his organizing, designing, writing, and research skills into building an environmental and community-driven organization that never stops dreaming.
Monalisa Amirsetia, Accounting, Vancouver
Monalisa began volunteering for the Wilderness Committee while completing her psychology degree at UBC, and has been involved ever since. During a campaign with the Penan people of Malaysia in the late 1980s, she provided translation services, and helped to run the publicity and public outreach side of the campaign in Malaysia. Monalisa gained her accounting expertise while running her own company and from a range of financial training and certification programs. She was hired on to the accounting department in 1991, where she is now responsible for most aspects of the Wilderness Committee's accounting system.
Tria Donaldson, Public Outreach Coordinator, Victoria
Tria brings many years of experience working on climate justice and the environment. She is passionate about dealing with environmental issues in a fair and equitable manner that includes addressing systemic oppression and inequality. She is an active volunteer with several organizations, including the Sierra Youth Coalition, the Canadian Youth Coalition and the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. In recent months Tria travelled to Copenhagen with the Canadian Youth Delegation for the climate talks, and was the Project Manager for goBeyond, a youth driven climate project that works with 12 post-secondary institutions in BC.
Deborah Drouin, Membership Services, Vancouver
Deborah joined the Wilderness Committee in 1997 in the membership services department. She handles the Wilderness Savings Plan(monthly giving), manages our membership database, processes donations and membership fees, and supervises the preparation and distribution of membership materials. Deborah also provides assistance in the finance and accounting department.
Sue Fox, Communications Director, Vancouver
Sue Fox became involved with the Wilderness Committee in 1989 during a campaign to bring to light the destruction of the environment and culture of the Penan people of Malaysia. She is a graphic artist by trade, and studied at both the Fanshawe School of Art and Design and the Ontario School of Fine Arts. Her graphic design background led her to the Wilderness Committee, where she co-founded the WILD campaign, and later became our communications director. Sue now oversees the creation and production of all of the Wilderness Committee's publications, and is also responsible for our product department and many aspects of our public outreach program. Beyond her passion for saving wilderness and endangered species, Sue sits on the board of directors of City Farmer, and owns her own graphic design company. Her hobbies include gardening and calligraphy, and she is involved with the birthing and midwifery movement as a Doula.
Stephanie Gribble, Wholesale Representative and Volunteer Coordinator, Vancouver
Having been involved with various environmental organizations in her home country of Australia, including The Wilderness Society and Friends of the Earth, Stephanie came to Canada to pursue the same dream: to protect wilderness and wildlife. The Wilderness Committee seemed a perfect place to work. In 2005 she started out as a Wilderness Committee canvasser and also helped run public outreach booths. She is now employed as our Volunteer Coordinator and Wholesale representative. Stephanie enjoys hiking, camping, painting and promoting conservation.
Cheyenne Keith, Membership Servicing, Vancouver
Cheyenne has volunteered for the Wilderness Committee since October 2007, attending her first protest with us for our Salmon campaign, standing up for wild salmon in protest of fish farms on our Pacific Coast. In her current position as Administrative Assistant, Cheyenne helps out with our membership servicing, including data entry, processing mail and attending to member requests. In her own time, Cheyenne is interested in crafting, dancing, yoga, camping, swimming and boating and can often be found outside enjoying the sun.
JP LeFrank, Printer and Distribution Coordinator, Vancouver
JP LeFrank is a photographer and photojournalist by trade, and has submitted images to the Wilderness Committee for over 15 years. A childhood camper and lover of wild places, JP has always had a passion for protecting the wild, in particular our old growth forests. In his position as Printer/Distribution Co-ordinator, JP is happy to say our paper supplier ensures no trees were felled to produce our in-house printing for our membership. An avid sportsman, you can find JP in the hockey rink, the baseball diamond, and launching potatoes.
Aimee Macdonald, Co-Canvass Director, Vancouver
After completing her BSc in Biology and Environmental Science from McGill University, Aimee moved back to Vancouver to be near the ocean and mountains. When a Wilderness Committee door canvasser visited Aimee, she 'reverse canvassed' them for a job. She now co-manages the canvass department with Tammy Lea Meyer. Aimee has worked with other organizations such as the Environmental Youth Alliance, where she worked on a community garden project in elementary schools, bridging concepts of food sustainability and urban gardening for youth. An active lover of the woods, Aimee can be found riding her bike between urban pockets of nature.
Shaine Macleod, Outreach Director, Toronto
With a passion for social advocacy, Shaine first became involved in the environmental movement while studying business. Eventually working full-time for many of the local grassroot organizations, by the summer of 2003 he joined WCWC re-establishing the Toronto office. Having made his life’s work out of public outreach, Shaine believes that community awareness and involvement is a critical part of any successful campaign. As Outreach Director, Shaine coordinates the canvass office, educating the public on current issues. His goal is to renew and rebuild membership in the “Big Smoke” of the Greater Toronto Area. In his free time, Shaine enjoys cycling and camping; as well, he has an avid enthusiasm for strategy games.
Tammy Lea Meyer, Co-Canvass director, Vancouver
Tammy Lea Meyer has led a varied life from a homestead in Nova Scotia to the cosmopolitan buzz of London before settling in Vancouver, where she has been with the Wilderness Committee since Jan 2002. Starting in canvass, Tammy has knocked on many doors raising awareness about the Wilderness Committee's campaigns. A media activist and developing creator of media arts, Tammy took over the management of the website in 2003. Since early 2007, she and Aimee share the position of canvass director.
Andy Miller, Staff Scientist and National Field Office Director, Vancouver
Andy Miller has performed many functions at the Wilderness Committee since he started volunteering in 1991. His duties have ranged from door-to-door canvasser, to mail room clerk, to staff scientist, to his current role helping out with the smooth running of the Wilderness Committee's field offices. Andy has advanced degrees in biology and forestry and specializes in old growth forest ecology. When he is not beavering away on office work, you can catch him in the field pursuing his favorite activity, bird watching.
Andrew Radzik, Outreach Director, Vancouver
Andrew joined the Wilderness Committee as a canvasser in 2003, and has worked in a number of different roles in the organization. He currently serves as Outreach Director. Andrew believes that an informed and active citizenry are vital for the health of a democracy, and aims to give the public information and tools to make their voice heard as effectively as possible. His hobbies include complaining, not getting enough sleep, and worrying about going bald.
Eric Reder, Campaign Director, Manitoba
Eric has worked for the Wilderness Committee since 2003 as a canvasser. Eric is a multi-talented man who has performed successfully as a campaigner, publisher, photographer, director of a national sports organization, carpenter, communications director and coach.
His valuable work experience is complemented by a strong background as an avid and accomplished outdoorsman. First-hand knowledge of many wild spaces has instilled a deep appreciation for their beauty and value, strengthening Eric's resolve to protect them. Eric spent much of his youth in the wilderness east of Lake Winnipeg, stating with his first paddling trip at age four. Since then he has journeyed through much of Canada's wildlands, and many U.S. wilderness areas as well.
Matthew Sasaki, Executive Assistant, Vancouver
After spending most of his teenage years focussed on how to amass a great fortune at any cost, Matthew started reading about the consequences of stratospheric ozone layer depletion and the Chernobyl nuclear disaster which were catalysts in rearranging his priorities to protect the Earth's ecosystems. He completed a degree in Environmental Studies, and has spent numerous years working in the nonprofit sector particularly towards conservation, including several years teaching environmental education around BC. He'll even fit in the odd jazz gig on tenor sax when time permits, and, with his wife and son, tries to get into the wild as much as possible.
Geoff Senichenko, Research and Mapping Director, Vancouver
Joan Varley, Office & Store Manager, Victoria
Joan has arrived at the Wilderness Committee with a background in office administration, sales and marketing going back to the early '90’s when she operated a children’s consignment clothing store, followed by managing a wholesale seed company specializing in native plant seeds of Canada. Joan has had the opportunity to volunteer for several environmental organizations in various capacities such as office work, retail and outreach awareness, so jumping into the office/store manager position at the Rainforest Store was right in line with her love of nature and promoting the conservation of our environment. Joan enjoys family time, nature walks, reading and just puttering around in her garden.
Ben West, Healthy Communities Campaigner, Vancouver
Ben West has been concerned about our living out of balance with the earth since he was very young. Ben grew up in an environment of socially consciousness and is a strong believer in life long learning. Ben has explored various avenues to make change for the better ranging from film-making and student activism to political organizing and sitting on the boards of a number of organizations including the Aurora Institute and the Board of Governors at Capilano College.
Ben was the coordinator of the BC Park Lovers Tour for the Wilderness Committee in 2005. As the Healthy Communities Campaigner for the Wilderness Committee Ben coordinates campaigns related to land use and transportation planning, protection of agricultural land and watersheds, reducing toxic pollution, and climate change policy.
List of former Wilderness Committee staff
Three things make the Wilderness Committee the ideal environmental volunteer experience for me: first, the Committee has an uncompromising commitment to the environment and wildlife; secondly, its staff is forthright, friendly, passionate, politically savvy, committed, funny, and great to work with; and lastly, the Committee provides constructive opportunities to get directly involved in a wide range of activities, campaigns, and issues for the benefit of the environment and wildlife.
